Julia cried out once more—this time, something felt different. As Samantha approached the kids’ room, she saw a shadow scurry across the floor. Heart pounding, she grabbed an umbrella and turned on the lights. To her astonishment, hiding under Julia’s bed wasn’t a monster—but a small, scared puppy curled up on an old blanket. Julia’s fear vanished as she happily cuddled the pup. Samantha, quickly pieced things together—Jacob had once begged to adopt a dog from a local drive, but she had said no until he turned ten. It was clear now: Jacob had secretly brought the puppy home. When confronted, Jacob admitted the truth with teary eyes. Samantha gently explained why sneaking the pup in was wrong, but couldn’t help smiling at her children’s joy. Julia eagerly named the dog “Mr. Cuddles,” and Jacob promised to take care of him. Samantha looked at her two excited kids—and the tiny “monster” who had brought them closer—and made a decision. Mr. Cuddles could stay. After all, Jacob’s tenth birthday was just around the corner.
